Tri Grose comes from Slovakia and I get their latest album Koniec Jednej Epizody and it was a fantastic experience with their punkrock and the way the use the accordion in the music…march 2026

I see on Discogs that you have done records since 1988, is it so far your history goes, and where, why and when did you start to play? 

-We started the Band in 1988 in Čadca, Slovakia as 14-year-old teenagers. We wanted to create and play our own music, not the covers. We wanted to play Rock, and it was only later when we were told by older musicians that we are playing quite a good Punk 🙂. We did not have any big influences, as in those times we still lived behind the Iron Curtain and not much of the western music got through it. Nevertheless, few good pieces of Rock music found us 🙂

Please tell me a little about every member, age, instrument, bands on the side of Tri Grose and bands before?

-I am 52 and I have been playing Guitar since the beginning. I only started to sing later as there was nobody else 🙂.

Šišo is also 52 and he has been playing Drums since the beginning. He left to live in the UK, played in several bands over there, but came back and now he is only playing with Tri Groše.

Latex is 57, he plays the accordion and also teaches it at school.

Plastik is 44, he used to play Guitar in previous band, but plays Bass now.

Vasil is the 46 year old Guitarist, he used to play with Plastik in their previous band.

We are all playing in Tri Groše only, nobody has any other band.

You have an accordion in your music but you don't sound like folkpunk, how come you took accordion into the group, (really good move)?

-Well, We felt that it would just be useful in a band, and it worked 🙂

So many good punk bands come from Slovakia, how come there's so many good bands there?

-It must be something in the air or water mixed with shitty Government and angry people 🙂

Any favorites from the country now? Both old and new?

-Davová  Psychóza, Slobodná  Európa, ExTip, Sitňan, from the newer ones Blots, My o Vlkoch

And Swedish favorites?

-Europe and ABBA 🙂. But seriously, I like Ebba Grön, Asta Kask, The Hives, but also Opeth

Your lyrics are in your own language, any thoughts of english(I don't hope so)?

-Since I do not speak English, it is very unlikely 🙂. But never say never - I might learn it one day

What is most important, is it the music or the lyrics? Which do you do first?

-Both music and lyrics are important - music must capture you, it needs to be entertaining for us and the audience, but once you'll write a good lyrics to that, it will have deeper meaning and people will remember it. What comes first depends - sometimes it is music, sometimes lyrics.

Who writes the lyrics?

-There are several people who wrote lyrics for the band, but usually it is myself, my brother Peter, Šišo, Jaro Klus and Marian Grupač - the last two being writers.

Tell me about the following lyrics 

Sloboda

Sonety

Banik

-Sloboda means Freedom and it is about the fact that it can be lost really fast, that is why we need to cherish our Freedom and fight for it. With songs, words, actions. Every single day.

-Sonety (Sonets) is about our planet, how fragile it is and that we must take care of it and be aware of what is going on. It is our home, We do not have another one, so we can't afford to destroy it.

-Baník (Miner) is about an unemployed Miner with several health issues, who got dumped by the company after working in the mines for 30 years and the state left him behind. He is drowning pain and helplessness with Gin and Beer and he lost all the illusions about justice in the world.

Politic and music, does it go hand in hand? Which is your most political song?

-Politics and music - it works sometimes, when things are really going badly. Most political song - possibly Juhoslávia, as it was one of the firsts - it is about the war in former Yugoslavia in early 90s, from the most recent songs Sloboda (Freedom), Sirény (Sirens) and Kasárne (Army Barracks)

When we talk about politics, how is it to live in Slovakia right now when we think about politics, racism , economy and so on?

-Society is divided, people are vulnerable to desinformation and blatant lies, the economy is going downhill and racism is the result of scaremongering of populist politicians and fear of the unknown. So at the moment, life in Slovakia is not easy. Saying that, some people are living in luxury, they probably don't really mind. 

Your thoughts about the word punk, is it only a word or is it only a music style or a lifestyle?

-Punk is definitely a lifestyle, you don´t have to wear a leather jacket and have a mohawk on your head to be a Punk. It is about the fight for your freedom, respect for others, point to bad things in society and check on the Government. Because they need to Serve, not reign.

When you play live I can believe that there is a sweaty experience?

-Definitely, we are now the older Gentlemen, we get sweaty just walking up the stairs 😀

Which type of people come to your concerts? Anyone type you miss?

-Loads of different types of people - we are glad that we can see young people together with the older generation - it looks like punk still has the voice and the future. We welcome everyone who likes our music or is just curious. We don't care how they dress, what they drink, what they are or who they are - everyone is welcome.

Ten favorite records of all time?

-Sex Pistols - Never mind the Bollocks, here's the Sex Pistols

Nirvana - Nevermind

Dead Kennedys - Bedtime for Democracy

Pink Floyd - Dark side of the Moon

Metallica - Master of Puppets

Björk - Debut

Slobodná  Európa- Pakáreň

Tři Sestry - Na Kovárně, to je nářez

The Plastic People of the Universe - Egon Bondy's Happy Heart's Club Banned

Dežo Ursíny - Modrý Vrch

You release your music physically, would it have been so that it would have been feeling so that you didn´t haven´t released anything if it's only digital?

-Definitely not, but we started to release music before digital platforms existed, so we are just carrying on 🙂

What does Tri grose mean in english?

-You could translate it as Three Shillings. Groš was the currency in the past, very low denomination, something like Cent or Penny today. But there is a famous fairytale in Slovakia called Tri Groše (originally "O Troch Grošoch"). It is about the wisdom and life experiences, like our Band 🙂

Are you satisfied with your new album? Anything you could have done better?

-We are very satisfied, and of course we could have done some things better - but if we would think like that, we would never release anything 🙂

Do you care about reviews, if you get a really bad one, do you change anything in your music? Which is the most annoying/odd review you ever have got?

-Reviews are fine, but our music is not built on that. We have our own way, our fans like it, we like it and we are going to carry on regardless. To be honest, I don't think we ever had particularly bad review, so it looks like even our reviewers like it 🙂

The most exciting/odd thing which has happened during a gig with you?

-We once played at the festival called Hodokvas in Slovakia and shared the stage with the legendary Sex Pistols (they played a bit later than us). And the other day we had one of our fans dancing Pogo with the broken neck and full neckbrace 🙂. So all sorts of things are happening.

Many bands make their own beer, if you do a Tri Grose-beer, which style would it have been and what will it be called, or you have maybe already done that?

-We don't have our own beer yet, but if we did, it would definitely be Lager or IPA. It would probably be called PUČA - Punk Čadca

Which is your favorite song to play live? And which song is the most popular in the audience?

-We like to play all the songs, regarding the audience, it depends where we are playing. But Vianoce (Christmas), Ulica (Street),  Juhoslávia (Yugoslavia) and from the recent ones Sloboda (Freedom) are looking popular.

Which is the record that you always must have in the tour bus?

-We are listening to rock radio 🙂

Futureplans for the band?

-Keep going till we are able to, and till we still like it.

For yourself?

-I would like to reach the retirement age in a normal Country, normal world with my family, Friends and the Band.

Wisdomword?

-Don't piss against the wind and don't eat yellow snow 🙂

Something to add?

-PUNK is not Dead, it is Evolving 

För dig själv?

-Jag skulle vilja nå pensionsåldern i ett normalt land, en normal värld med min familj, mina vänner och bandet.

Visdomsord?

-Kissa inte mot vinden och ät inte gul snö 🙂

Något att tillägga?

-PUNKEN är inte död, den utvecklas